After reviewing the regional situation and consulting with stakeholders, the Esports Foundation (EF) revealed that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) in Riyadh in November 2026 will be moved to November 2027.
Due to Esports Nations Cup's unprecedented international scale and regional uncertainty, Esports Foundation believes that postponing the inaugural competition to next year is the "responsible decision" to give National Teams, publishers, partners, and fans "certainty and stability."
The Esports Nations Cup brings together teams and stakeholders from over 100 nations. As planned, Saudi Arabia can host major sporting and entertainment events.
The Esports Foundation is committed to presenting a world-class international competition that satisfies the original standards and long-term goals of the Esports Nations Cup. EF remains committed to the ENC and the national esports ecosystems it is building around it despite the postponement.
All ENC Development Fund National Team Partner commitments will remain. ENC Development Fund and ecosystem development projects will continue, along with publisher, National Team Partner, and stakeholder activities. EF will consult with partners on the revised schedule and the 2027 inaugural competition.
Ralf Reichert, Esports Foundation CEO, stated:
The decision to postpone the Esports Nations Cup was not taken lightly. The response from National Team Partners, publishers, players, and communities around the world has shown us how much potential this competition has. We owe them an inaugural ENC delivered under the right conditions and at the level this idea deserves. Hosting the tournament in Riyadh next year does not change our commitment. We will continue investing in our National Team Partners, working with publishers, and building the national ecosystems already taking shape around the competition. The work continues, and our ambition for ENC remains unchanged.
The Esports Nations Cup is gaining popularity worldwide. Over 100 countries and territories on every continent are official partners and will bring together the finest players from numerous game titles. ENC complements the esports ecosystem by creating new avenues for athletes, strengthening national esports growth, and creating new fandom through national pride and global competition.
Esports Foundation will continue to engage with National Team Partners, publishers, and stakeholders to clarify the new competition calendar, qualification procedures, and other timeline implications in the coming weeks.
News related to ENC 2026 titles I already posted here on the blog include Honor of Kings (HOK), Valorant, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and League of Legends (LoL). And now we'll be seeing their action next year. – PinoyTechSaga
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